'Bowled Over' at the Tower of London

The North Hertfordshire Bowls Club recently benefited from a £400 Community Grant; awarded towards the cost of a trip to play a Bowls match against the Yeomen of the Tower of London.

50 Letchworth Garden City citizens and club members made the journey with 12 team players taking part in one of just six matches the Yeomen take part in each year.

Dorothy Harrison, Assistant Treasurer of the club, provided this account of their wonderful outing to the Tower during July 2010:

“Thanks to the generous help from the Foundation, North Herts Bowls Club, who play on Norton Common, enjoyed a fairy-tale evening at the Tower of London.

On arrival we were admitted through a side entrance marked Strictly Private - to our amazement there was no Security Procedure although we each had a large bag containing bowls equipment and a wardrobe bag containing the “smart” clothes we had been asked to wear for the meal in the Yeomen Warders’ dining premises.

Playing bowls in the Tower moat was an odd experience. Rough grass (dotted with holes dug by marauding sea-gulls) no markings and only a short stretch as Tower walls and bridges intervened.

Up above, tourists hung over the walls and gazed at us with expressions ranging from amusement to puzzlement. A French party (who obviously thought “les Anglais” couldn’t understand their comments) were particularly vociferous as they tried-in vain- to detect some pattern to our activity, “C’est ridicule” repeated ad nauseam showed just how much they understood. Much more intelligent, though incomprehensible, were some 20 Japanese. They quickly cottoned on and began applauding and cheering whenever a bowl arrived near a jack (a great achievement, given the conditions of the rink). Honours were evenly shared. Each team won 2 rinks.

Meanwhile, those NHBC members not on the team were given a private tour of the Tower and the Warders’ quarters.

Changing into our “Smart” clothes for dinner took place in the resident doctor’s surgery. 24 bowlers, both males and females, crammed into a 9ft square room. Cosy. Modesty was preserved as everyone kept eyes firmly on the tiny area at one’s feet.

We enjoyed excellent food and company before being taken to witness the “Ceremony of the Keys” at 10pm after a detailed history of the origins of the ceremony. It was dusk - and the “Last Post”, sounded by the bugler as a nearby church clock struck 10 ponderously and the sun disappeared over the Thames led to a reverent hush.

The end of an incredibly wonderful evening”.

This community grant was awarded under the Foundation’s charitable object 2 ii); Providing or assisting in the provision of facilities for the recreation or other leisure activity of the local community in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life.

For further information about how to apply for Community Grants, please click here.